Obituary of Anita Tirella Aughey

Anita Tirella Aughey , 93, of Mount Arlington, N.J. passed away peacefully on June 10, 2016, at Compassionate Care Hospice, Dover , N.J . Anita was born on S eptember 11, 1922 in Dover, to Severino (Sam) Tirella and Etilia Falgione Tirella . Anita grew up in Dover among a large and loving immediate and extended family. She spent summers at their family home at Budd Lake. She attended school in Dover, graduating from Dover High School in 1940 followed by Miss Whitman’s School for Girls, graduating with secretarial and stenographic skills. Her career included work at Jersey Central Power and Light in Dover, where she serv ed as support staff in the Home Economics Department , and at Reaction Motors in Denville, where she worked in personnel. She was a gifted floral designer, working in her family’s business, Colonial Greenhouses, Dover. Later, she and her family owned and operated the High Country Motor Inn, Parsippany. During World War II, Anita worked as an Executive Secretary for the US Army Signal Corps at Ft . Monmouth , NJ. There, in 1944, she met the love of her life, Robert Aughey , a USMC Officer from Minnesota. At the time, the Marine Corp s lacked a Communications School and their Officers attended the program at Ft. Monmouth. Bob was a persistent suitor, sweeping her off her feet, and into marriage prior to shipping out to the Pacific. Upon his return, Anita helped Bob pursue a degree in E lectrical Engineering, w hile becoming a mother of two. They continued to live in Dover until 1978, and spent summers sailing, swimming , and fishing at the cabin they built at Lake Hopatcong. They later converted the cabin to their permanent home , which was often filled with family and friends . While Bob attended college, they owned the “Walking Charlie” attraction at Bertrand Island Amusement Park. They and their babies spent summers living in a small cabin under the Roller Coaster, which her family members owned, along with several other concessions at the park. Simple, hard-working days, the y were the happiest of times for Anita and her family . Anita served as an Officer of the Mothers ’ Guild at Sacred Heart Elementa ry School , Dove r, which both of her children attended. She was also a Brownie and Junior Girl Scout leader there. She volunteered in the early years of St. Clare’s Hospital, Denville, in several capacities, mostly in the very early days of their Cancer Clinic. She also served as Pre s ident of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club during her husband’s term as Commodore. She and her husband were members of several car clubs and enjoyed showing their antique cars, especially Corvettes. Anita loved nature (often found fishing off her boathouse with her grandchildren) and was a friend to all animals, feeding birds and squirrels and always finding homes for neighborhood stray cats and kittens. She was a natural gardener and her tomatoes and blossoms were legendary. She spent many happy hours traveling with he r husband and beloved dogs via motor h ome through the South and Southwest, a nd New England. Anita loved many things, but non e more than her grandchildren — s he was born to the role of grandma . She played with , nurtured, taught, fed, transported , and loved and loved them. Anita is survived by her loving children Donna Lohmeyer (Richard) of Mount Arlington, N . J . , and Robert Aughey , Jr. of Stowe, Vt.; beloved grandchildren Dina Ely and Dara Ely, both of Mount Arlington, and RJ an d Ryan Aughey , both of Stowe, Vt .; and her adored great-grandson, Elijah Hughes, of Mount Arlington, to whom she was “GG.” Known as “Aunt Nee” to her family, Anita leaves many cherished nieces, nephews, grand nieces , grand nephews and cousins as well as he r devoted c aregiver, Barbara. Anita was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, her parents, her sisters: Rose Rea (Prof. Joseph) , Mary B. (Mamie) Tirella , Alice Romano Delgado ( Armond , Manuel) , Edith Burrows (Jack) and her brothers: Alphonso Tirella , Francis Tirella (Irene) , Arthur Tire lla (Irene) a nd Eduardo Tirella , her daughter-in-law Jan Bernasconi Aughey , and many cousins. Visitation will be Tuesday, June 14, 2016 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., followed by a Funeral Service at Tuttle Funeral Home, Randolph. www.tuttlefh.com . Interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery , Dover.